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WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF TRYING TO FACE OFF AGAINST IRAN ON ONE HAND AND AS I SAID OPENING THE TERRITORY TO THEIR INFLUENCE AND RUSSIAN INFLUENCE ON THE OTHER HAND IN SYRIA?
WHAT I THINK MOST PEOPLE TAKE FROM IT IS AN ABSENCE OF A GENUINE STRATEGIC POLICY.
IT'S SHOOTING FROM THE HIP.
WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW, CHRISTIANE, I THINK EVERYBODY IN THE PENTAGON UNDERSTANDS THIS, AND BY THE WAY, FOR THOSE SOLDIERS ON THE GROUND WHO HAD FORMED PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS AND ALLIANCES WITH KURDS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE IN ORDER TO GO AFTER ISIS TO ONE DAY BE SLEEPING IN A TENT WITH THEM AND THEN THE OTHER HAVE TO RETREAT, AND WE SAW THE POTATOES BEING THROWN AT OUR TRUCKS AND THINGS, I MEAN, THIS IS A MOMENT OF ENMITY.
THIS IS A HORRIBLE MOMENT THAT THOSE SOLDIERS WILL CARRY WITH THEM FOREVER, AND WHAT I BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT AND THOSE SUPPORTING HIM ARE TRYING TO DO NOW IS FIND SOME KIND AN OFF RAMP MAKEUP FOR IT IT, BUT THERE ISN'T A MAKEUP FOR IT.
THE FACT IS THAT THE KURDS WERE OUR ALLIES IN KEEPING ISIS LOCKED UP WHICH NOW THEY ARE NOT ALL LOCKED UP, AND IN ASSURING THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO RISE AGAIN.
WE HAD A BUFFER AGAINST WHAT OTHERS IN THE REG OP WEREN'T FRANKLY DOING FULLY.
I MEAN, IT WASN'T RUSSIA THAT DEFEATED ISIS.
IT WAS THE UNITED STATES AND A POLICY THAT WE PUT TOGETHER IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION THAT BROUGHT 68 PLUS NATIONS TO THE TABLE IN AN ALLIANCE AND THEN STEADILY BEGINNING WITH THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION TO BOMB MT. SINJAR AND SAVE LIVES TO STEADILY TAKE BACK TERRITORY THAT HAD BEEN TAKEN BY ISIS, AND -- AND PRESIDENT TRUMP CONTINUED THAT.
HE ACCELERATED IT IN CERTAIN PLACES, BUT THE POINT IS IT WAS THE SAME STRATEGY.
THAT'S NOW DESTROYED.
THAT IS NOT PRESENT, AND THE PRESENCE OF AMERICA ON THE GROUND WHICH WAS NOT COSTING US A DAILY WAR, YOU KNOW, EVERLASTING WAR LIVES.
IT WAS A STRATEGIC POSITIONING OF TROOPS WHO BY THEIR VERY PRESENCE HAD HELPED TO QUIET THINGS DOWN AND RUSSIANS WERE SORT OF TREATING THEIR TERRITORY AS THEIR TERRITORY.
WE WERE TAKING CARE OF A CERTAIN ELEMENT OURS AND THE KURDS WERE DOING WHAT THEY WERE DOING, AND ASSAD WAS HE WILL AT BAY IN THAT.
THERE WAS SOME LEVERAGE TO TRY TO GET A DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION.
THAT IS NOW NOT PRESENT.
YOU SEE PUTIN MEETING WITH ERDOGAN, AND THEY ARE NOW SITTING THERE DIVIDING UP THE WAY THEY ARE GOING TO MANAGE THE FUTURE AND THE UNITED STATES IS NOT AT THAT TABLE.
About This Episode EXPAND
John Kerry speaks to Christiane Amanpour about the impeachment inquiry, the situation in Syria and a new initiative to combat climate change called “World War Zero.” Actor Brian Cox discusses his work in the play “The Great Society” and HBO’s “Succession.” Maya Moore tells Michel Martin about her fight for justice for her friend Jonathan Irons, who is serving a 50-year prison sentence.
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